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CELEBRATION 



OF THE 



One Hundredth Anniversary 



OF THE 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 



OF THE 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 



HELD AT 
/ 

JULY 4TH, 1876, 



HAVERHILL : 

GAZETTE BOOK AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE. 

1877. 



n 



At a legal town-meeting held June loth, 1876, the followiHg 
votes were passed : 

Art. 2d. Voted — to approjiriate the sum of Three hundred 
($300) dollai'S for the purpose of celebrating the coming Centennial 
fourth of July. 

Voted — that the following named be a committee to carry out 
the above vote with power to fill vacancies and appoint sub-com- 
mittees : 



d. fueeman towne. 
Dk. Wm. Cogswell. 
James K. Hall. 
Geokge W. Ladd. 

Wm. 



Wm. a. Kimball. 
Chas. B. Emerson. 
Wbi. Hilton. 
Gardner G. Kimuall. 
Gage. 



<7^ 



\^< 



ORGANIZATION OF THE 

Committee op Aeeangements. 



George W. Ladd, Chairman. 

William Cogswell, General Director. 

William Hilton, Secretary. 

William L. Gage, Treasurer. 

Samuel W. Hopkinson, ^ 

D. Freeman Towne, > Selectmen. 

Wm. Allison Kimball. ) 

Charles B. Emerson. 

James K. Hall. 

Gardner G. Ki3iball. 



SUB COMMITTEES. 
Committee to select Grounds for the Celebration. 
Geo. W. Ladd. D. F. Towne. 

Wm. L. Gage. 

Committee to procure a Band. 

D F. Towne. Gardner G. Kimball. 

Ja3ies K. Hall. 

Committee on Singing. 
Wm. Cogswell, Chas. B, Emerson. 

Committee on Salute. 

James K. Hall. Samuel W. Hopkinson. 

Committee to furnish Stand, Tables and Decorations. 

William Hilton. 

Committee to procure Provisions and superintend Tables. 

Charles B. Emerson. James K. Hall. 

Wm. Allison Kimball. 

Committee to procure Lemonade. 
William L. Gage. 
Assistant Committee. 
Sam'l K. Holmes. Doane Cogswell. 

Benj. F. Leavitt. Nicholas Sawyer. 

Frank Johnson. Alden B. Chadwick, 

Edwin G. Elliott. 



OFFICEHS OF THE DAY. 

Committee to arrange Tables and Decorations^ 
Mks. Laburton Johnson. 
" Harrison E. Chadwick, 
" William W. Phillips. 
" P. E. Pearl. 
" George W. Ladd. 
" Harrison Williams, 
" A. Laburton Kimball. 
" Samuel B. Perry. 
" William Cogswell. 
" Eliza Goodwin. 
" John B. Farrar. 
Miss Lizzie Peabody. 
*' Julia A. Goodell. 
" JVLvRY E. Webster. 
" Hattie N. Hills. 



The Committee appointed as Oiiicers of the Di\y : 

Chief Marshal. 
Major Eugene Carter. 

Assistant Marshals. 
Benj. G. Perry. Chas. T. Richards, 

Charles G. Johnson. Frank E, Morse. 

President. 
Hon. George Cogswell. 

Chaplain. 
Rev. J. C. Paine, of Grovclaiid. 

Reader of the Declaration of Independence. 
Dr. William Cogswell. 

Orator. 
EEarrison E. Chad wick, Esq. 

Toast Master. 
Sariuel W. Hopkinson, Esq. 

Musical Director. 
Prof. H. E. Holt. 



PROCEEDINGS. 



At sunrise the church bell was ruug, and a salute of 
thirteen guns for the thirteen original States was fired. 
At noon the church bell was again rung, and the people 
assembled at the Common in front of the meeting-house, 
according to previous notice. A procession was then 
formed by Major Eugene Carter, the Chief Marshal of 
the day, in the following order : — First, the Groveland 
Brass Band, followed by the carriage bearing the Presi- 
dent of the day, the Chairman of the Committee of Ar- 
rangements, the Chaplain and the Orator; then the Town 
Ofiicers, the elderly people and invited guests in car- 
riages ; then followed the children of the public schools 
on foot, many of them carrying flags ; and as many others 
of the citizens as chose to join the procession. 

At about one o'clock the procession moved up Main 
Street into School Street about one-half a mile to the 
grove on the grounds of Bradford Academy, in the rear 
of the building, where the whole assembly, numbering 
about fifteen hundred, arranged themselves around the 
stand provided for the occasion. 

At half-past one o'clock the exercises commenced. 
George W. Ladd, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of 
Arrangements, addressed the assembly as follows : 

Ladies and Gentlemen : 

You all well know that we have met here to celebrate this glori- 
ous Fourth of July. Every community ought, and every individ- 
ual should participate in some way. It is a duty we owe to our 
country, and a duty we can do with pleasure. 

There is something grand in being here on this Centennial Year 
of our National Independence, to do all we can that is patriotic and 
profitable, for in doing so we can all pledge ourselves anew to cher- 
ish the memory of those noble men and women who sacrificed so 



6 PROCEEDINGS. 

much to gain our lii(le2:)endcnce, ami U> thosi; that did so much to 
restoi'e it. 

I will not detain 3'ou with with any extended remarks, but will 
say that the Committee of Arrangements have selected one of our 
honored and esteemed citizens to take chai'ge of the exercises — one 
whom you all know ; one who has been in our midst for nearly tifty 
years ; one who has seen this town grow from a little village to its 
l^resent proportions ; and one that has always had the interest of Brad- 
ford ami his country nearest his heart. I now have the pleasure of 
introducing to you as President of the Day, Hon. George Cogswell. 

remarks of the president. 

Fellow-Countky.men axd Fellow-Townsmen: 

A century since our fathers uttei'ed these words, "We hold these 
truths to be self-evident : that all men are created equal ; that they 
are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights ; that 
among these are life, liberty, and the 23ursuit of happiness." 

Upon the Declaration of Independence the thirteen American 
Colonies continued the war then existing with the mother country, 
not merely to escajje from British opjjression but to establish a na- 
tion. Our ancestors brought with them from England the great 
prinei])le that all men have the right to woi'ship God in accordance 
with the dictates of conscience, and, also, to found a govei'nment 
"of the jjeople, by the people, and lor the jseojile." These grand 
truths uttered by John Calvin had been quietly possessing the 
hearts of men, until they found full expression in the founding of 
the American Repul)lic. The population of this country was then 
between three and four millions, engaged in a desperate war with 
the savages on the west, on the east with the mightiest nation in 
Europe assisted by mercenary German troops. Now we have a 
nation of forty millions and not a slave presses our soil, extending 
from the fi-ozen regions of the north to the wann waters of the 
Gulf; at peace with ourselves and with all the nations of the earth, 
while t)ur Hag lloats jjroudly over every sea as an emblem of power 
and of self-government. 

We meet to-day to recount our blessings and to give thanks to 
Almighty God that he did put it into the hearts of our fathers to 
cross the Atlantic and take possession of a continent and found this 
great nation on a moiUil far in advance of any other nation in secur- 
ing equal rights to all. 

Fellow-townsmen, our lot is cast in this beautiful town of Brad- 
ford, on the south bank of the Merrimack, overlooking the city of 
Haverhill with its unsurpassed beauty, in the midst of an industri- 
ous, thriving and substantial population, with moral, educational 



PROCEEDINGS. < 

and religions advantages wliicli onght to satisfy the most exacting. 
With such national and local privileges and enjoj^ments, let us render 
praises to our Heavenly Father for his mercies to us, not only as a 
nation, but also to us as a town ; and in addition, on this interesting 
Centennial anniversary, let us renew our vows of allegiance to our 
country, resolving to discharge every duty of citizenship in such a 
manner as shall best pi'omote the true interest of our common coun- 
tr}', and thereby of evei-y individual member of this republic. 

In behalf of the citizens of Bradford I welcome the government 
of the city of Haverhill with its citizens ; I welcome the town 
authorities and citizens of Groveland, which for so many years was 
one with us as a corporation, to the rejoicings and festivities of this 
occasion. I welcome all citizens, whether fi'om the east or west, 
or from the north or the south ; our country is one, — our duties the 
same : the fairest country and the truest people the sun in his 
countless revolutions has ever shone upon. May the blessings of 
self-government and good order continue to comfort this people 
and may they continue worthv of these blessings so long as day 
shall succeed to night. 

He concluded by readino^ an interestins: letter from Dr. 
Jeremiah SpofFord, a venerable physician of Groveland, 
who regretted that he was obliged to decline the invita- 
tion to be present. 

The Rev. J. C. Paine, of Groveland, the Chaplain of 
the Day, then invoked the Divine blessing upon the as- 
sembly, offering thanks for the great and numerous bles- 
sings which as a nation they had received, and praying 
for their continuance, and that our whole united country 
might continue in the enjoyment of liberty, peace, and 
the knowledge of the Lord. 

Next in order came the singing of the national air, 
"Hail Columbia," fey a select choir under the lead of 
Prof. H. E. Holt, with chorus by the assembly. The 
Declaration of Independence was read by Dr. William 
Cogswell from the identical sheet that was sent to Brad- 
ford one hundred years ago, and read from the ]^ulpit by 
the Rev. Samuel Williams, then minister at Bradford. It 
was then voted that this same sheet be read one hundred 



8 ORATION. 

years hence, aud the Selectmen were directed to govern 
themselves accordingly. 

The President then introduced Harrison E. Chadwick, 
Esq., their fellow-townsman, as the Orator of the Day, 
who delivered the followinsj 



ORATION. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

The history of the world is marked by the occm-rence 
of events which affect not only the people who are actors 
in those events, but all succeeding generations. Such an 
event occurred on the day whose one hundredth aniversa- 
ry we are now assembled to commemorate. One hun- 
dred years ago to-day, stretched along the Atlantic coast 
were thirteen colonies, on the borders of a continent un- 
traversed by civilization. These colonies, having passed 
through the period of their settlement and dependence, 
are now just coming forth in their weakness of numbers 
and resources, yet in the strength of a mighty purpose, 
to claim the right in the ranks of the nations of the earth 
to take care of themselves. 

Gladly would they have continued the relations of the 
child to the parent for a longer period, had not the foster- 
ing care of the mother-country been perverted to such an 
extent that the interests of the infant and struggling colo- 
nies were made subservient to the interests of the sover- 
eign power to which they looked for protection. It was 
not of neglect merely that they complained, but, disre- 
garding the just rights of the people, a system of oppres- 
sion had been inaugurated, which if continued would 



ORATION. 9 

cripple the development of their country and destroy 
that manhood essential to the prosperity of a people. 
They had petitioned ; they had remonstrated ; they had 
implored a removal of the burden imposed upon them, 
unjustly as they believed — all to no purpose. They had 
sought a fair representation and voice in the government 
to which they owed allegiance ; this had been denied 
them. Having in many instances sought an asylum in 
the New World from oppression and violence in the Old, 
the colonists had been compelled to seek protection from 
a power which had little claim on their gratitude or re- 
spect. They were now outgrowing a dependence which 
was irksome to most, particularly to the Massachusetts 
colony, who were regarded as the instigators in the re- 
bellion and against whom most of the enactments were 
made to suppress the opposition to the authority of the 
British government. The tyranny and arrogance of the 
royal governors sent across the Atlantic to rule over 
them hastened on the act of separation. 

More than a year of open warfare had passed in the en- 
deavor on the part of the Crown of England to subdue 
the rebel colonists before the latter could be aroused to 
take the heroic step that was to sever them forever from 
their allegiance to the Old World and establish the inde- 
pendence of a nation extending from sea to sea across a 
continent ; a nation with a form of government whose ex- 
pansive and elastic power for the protection and welfare 
of the people has stood the test of a hundred years 
against the assaults of foes abroad and the machinations 
of enemies at home. This goodly land is our dwelling- 

9 



10 ORATIOiS'. 

place, and this form of government is our national inher- 
itance. 

And we are this day assembled together to express our 
feelings of gratitude to our ancestors for their heroic 
deeds and f elf-sacrifice ; and also on our own part to cher- 
ish and keep alive that spirit of independence and nation- 
al honor so characteristic of the early American people : 
"the spirit of seventy-six." 

THE REVOLUTION. 

That the people of Bradford fully entered into the spir- 
it of the times one hundred years ago is evident from the 
record of their acts. Let us for a moment, if we can, 
go back in imagination to those early times, when the 
people, as now, were accustomed to discuss in their town 
meetings the gravest national questions. The people of 
Bradford, scarcely a thousand in number, were scattered 
over a territory eig'ht miles in extent along the Merrimack 
river, piu-suing their occupation of tilling the soil. Vil- 
lages, they had none. They had their East and their 
West meeting-houses located centrally in each parish, and 
around them were clustered a few dwelling's and perhaps 
a store for the sale of a few articles of necessity ; l)ut 
not a post-office. And, so frugal in their habits, these, 
our worthy ancestors, found it necessary at that time to 
expend only £100 annually to defray all their town 
charges. The part which they took in the struggle for 
independence can better be told in their own language 
than in mine. In the early stages of the troubles, a 
town-meeting was held in the West meeting-house, Jan. 
7, 1773, to act on the followinir article : 



ORATION. 11 

**Tosee what instructions they will give to their Rep- 
resentative in General Court assembled (if any shall be 
thought proper) relating to the present difficulties, which 
the province and this town as part of the community are 
laboring under, and to act anything they shall think prop- 
er when met together to act ; and also to see if the Town 
will pass a vote to concur with the town of Boston in 
what is set forth in a pamphlet sent to the several towns 
in this province by said town of Boston relating to the 
grievances we labor under, and send them an answer ac- 
cording as they shall think proper." 

And the vote was to choose a committee to report im- 
mediately. 

They chose a committee, and adjourned to 6 o'clock, 
P. M., the same day, to hear the report. Capt. Daniel 
Thurston was then the town representative, and to him 
the town through its committee gave instructions as fol- 
lows ; '-Sir, we, his majesty's most dutiful and loyal 
subjects, freeholders and other iijhabitants of the town of 
Bradford, in town meeting legally assembled, this seventh 
day of January, 1773, take this opportunity to express 
our very great uneasiness at the infringements on our 
natural and constitutional rights by many of the late 
measures of the British administration, particularly of 
the taxation of the colonies and the granting of salaries 
to the Judges of the Superior Court, measures adapted, 
as we apprehend, to lay a foundation in time to render 
property precarious, and to introduce a system of des- 
potism, which we cannot but view with the utmost aver- 
sion, and to which we cannot submit while possible to be 



12 ORATIOlSr. 

avoided. We recommend it to you as our Kepresenta- 
tive in General Assembly to use your influence to obtaio 
redress of all our grievances, and in particular to enquire 
whether the support of the Judges of the Superior Court 
has been adequate to their services, offices, and station, 
and if not, to use your i]iflueuce in obtaining suitable 
grants and establishments, as may be thought sufficient 
to remove all pretence that government is not supported 
among ourselves — which was voted unanimously. 

We also vote the thanks of this town to the town of 
Boston for the care and vigilance they have discovered 
for the rights and privileges of this province as men, as 
Christians, and as subjects. Voted, that the town clerk 
be directed to transmit a copy of these instructions, &c., 
to the Committee of Correspondence in Boston. Dudley 
Carleton, Esq., William Greenough, Benjamin Gage, Jr., 
Thomas Webster, Amos Mulliken, — Committee to make 
report," 

Thus we see that the people of Bradford were jealous 
of their liberties and prompt to take measures to defend 
them. Soon after this, anticipating the resort to arms, 
they voted to build a powder house, May 17, 1773, two 
years before the war, and stocked it with ammunition, 
"six half-barrels of powder; bullets and flints proportion- 
able." 

The town was represented in the Provincial Congress, 
which assembled at Concord, Oct. 11, 1774, by Capt. 
Daniel Thurston, who was also chosen to represent the 
town in the Provincial Congress held in the following 
February at Cambridge. 



ORATION. 13 

More ammiiDition was laid in store, and thirty pounds 
sterling were voted for that purpose, and this before open 
hostilities had commenced. The enlistment of minute 
men now commenced, and these were drilled, equipped 
and paid by the town. The number of hours required 
for drill was increased from time to time as the emergen- 
cy seemed to demand, so that they might be ready to con- 
tribute their aid when needed. Town meetings now 
were frequently held, adjourning often to the east or 
west meeting-house to hear reports from committees, vote 
supplies and encourage each other. It is also stated that 
relief was voted to the poor of Boston, in their distress 
under the seige of the British. The town meeting called 
May 23, 1775, was an important one. It was the first 
after the battles of Lexinijton and Concord. The Mas- 
sachusetts army had appealed to the town for aid, and the 
articles needed were stated in a circular from a committee 
of supplies. The town was also called upon to choose a 
committee of correspondence, according to the recom- 
mendation of the Provincial Congress. 

The supply for the army called for was voted and the 
committee chosen. This committee were instructed to 
return the names of those persons who deserted the Pro- 
vincial service, to the covmty committee, unless they 
returned to duty. Soon after the battle of Bunker Hill — 
June 28, 1775 — being only eleven days after, another 
town meeting was held encouraging the re-enlistment of 
the minute men and promising to pay them. Capt. Na- 
thaniel Gage, with a company of forty men from their 
own town had just taken part in the battle of Bunker 



14 OR ATI ox. 

Hill. It is stated that this company was one of the best 
disciplined and most effective on that memorable day. 
having been instructed in military manoeuvres by an Eng- 
lish deserter, and although much exposed to the enemy, 
no one was fatally injured. Capt. Gage is said to have 
given half his property for the cause. 

The war of the revolution had now commenced in ear- 
nest ; there was no retreat save through dishonor and an 
increase of their grievances. The recent battles had the 
effect to unite the colonies and arouse them to put forth 
all their energies to secure their freedom. That Bradford 
shared in this spirit of resistance and determination to 
persevere in the cause is fully shown by the frequent 
votes for supplies. Thus the war was progressing, and 
as the difficulties between the colonies and the mother 
country increased, it became a serious question, whether 
the colonies should unite in declaring themselves indepen- 
dent. This measure was strenuously urged by the Massa- 
chusetts patriots, seconded by Virginia. In the midst of 
these deliberations the records show that Bradford was in 
full sympathy Avith them. A town meeting was called 
June 20, 1776, for the purpose of considering this ques- 
tion. Ten days prior to this a resolution had passed the 
Colonial Congress, making known their intention to de- 
clare the colonies independent. It is noticeable that this 
town-meeting waa not called in the name of his majesty 
as was formerly the custom. That acknowledgment of 
allegiance was omitted. 

At this meeting a committee was chosen consisting of 
Thomas Webster, John Burbank, Capt. Nathaniel Gage, 



ORATION, 15 

Benjamin Muzzy and Capt. John Savory, to consult and 
report to the meeting what ought to be done. The meet- 
ing adjourned for half an hour awaiting the report of the 
■committee, which is recorded as follows : 

*' We the subscribers being chosen a committee to form 
instruction for the representative of this town with re- 
spect to the Honorable Congress forming these United 
Colonies into Independent States, beg leave to make the 
following report : 
To Dudley Carleton, Esq., Representative for the Town 

of Bradford, in General Assembly : 

Sir : — When we consider the Despotic plan of govern- 
ment adopted by the King, Ministry and Parliament of 
Great Britain to enslave these American colonies ; when 
we consider that instead of redressing our grievances, 
they have turned a deaf ear to the repeated petitions and 
remonstrances of all the United Colonies, and have also 
been and still are, endeavoring to enforce their arbitrary 
plan upon us, by spilling our blood, by burning our 
towns, by seizing our property, and by instigating the 
savages of the wilderness and negroes to take up the 
cause against us ; when we consider these things, it raises 
our indignation, that we, who have always been loyal sub- 
jects to the King of Great Britain, should be so unconsti- 
tutionally and inhumanely treated. Such tyrannical im- 
positions and abuses of power we cannot as men submit 
to^ Therefore utterly despairing of a happy reconciliation 
ever taking place between Great Britain and these colo- 
nies, you are hereby desired, as our representative, to use 
your utmost endeavor that our delegates in General Con- 



16 ORATIOI<J. 

gress be instructed to shake otf the tyrannical yoke of 
Great Britain, and declare these United Colonies inde- 
pendent of that venal, corrupt and avaricious court for- 
ever — provided no proposals for a happy reconciliation be 
oflfered, which the honorable congress think proper to ac- 
cept; and we hereby engage that we will, at the risk of 
our lives and fortunes, endeavor to support and defend 
them therein." 

This report was accepted by a vote of the town. Here 
we have the sentiment of this town just two weeks before 
the declaration of independenc. By this act a new na- 
tion commenced an existence, and new duties were in- 
volved. Not only must the war be carried on, but a civil 
government must be provided for. A plan of government 
for the State was proposed by a resolution of the House 
of Representatives, Sept. 17, 1776, whereby the House 
and the Council should join in one body, with equal voice, 
and adopt a constitution, afterwards asking the towns to 
assent thereto. This proposition was not acceptable to 
this town, and after stating their dissatisfaction, the fol- 
lowing is an extract from a vote passed October 31, 1776 : 
"But we are willing and desire that the Hon. Council and 
the Hon. House of Representatives (each acting in their 
respective capacities,) proceed to form a government for 
this State, and exhibit attested copies thereof to its sev- 
eral towns for their inspection and approbation , before it 
is ratified and confirmed." The committee who reported 
and favored this action on the part of the town were Col. 
Daniel Thurston, Dca. Thomas Kimball, Benjamin Muz- 
zy, Maj. Benjamin Gage, Jr., and John Burbank. 



ORATION. 17 

This town also lent its aid in securing the observance 
of the State act to prevent monopoly and oppression. 
Abraham Day, Jr., was chosen to guard the town against 
the danger arising from internal enemies. It would be 
impossible to give all the details of the various town 
meetings, fifty or more in number, held to carry on this 
War. But the records abound in evidence of the zeal and 
readiness of the people to do their part, by voting supplies 
and furnishing men. A few must suffice. Oct. 11th, 1779, 
voted to hire ten men to go to New Yorh and join General 
Washington's army ; and £1995 were raised for that pur- 
pose. June 12th, 1780, voted to hire sixteen men for the 
Continental army for six months ; and on the 28 th of the 
same month, voted to hire four men to serve in the Con- 
tinental army for six months, and nineteen men to serve 
in the militia for the space of three months ; also voted 
to raise £12,527 to defray town charges. This was fol- 
lowed, Oct. 12th, 1780, by a vote to raise the sum of 
43,844 pounds, 12 shillings and 6 pence to defray town 
charsres. Just before this came a call from the State for 
10,750 pounds of beef. The committees appointed in 
each case to hire the men consisted of twice the number 
of soldiers required, which would seem to indicate that 
the task was a difficult one. 

Upon these committees are found the names of men 
whose military titles are evidence that they were them- 
selves engaged in the active service of their country ; 
among them the following : Capt. Nathaniel Gage, Lieut. 
Daniel Kimball, Lieut. Thomas Stickney, Lieut. Elipha- 
let Hardy, Lieut. Moses Harriman, Lieut. Phineas Cole, 



18 ORATION. 

Adjt. Daniel Hardy, Lieut. Abel Kimbnll, Lieut. Na- 
thaniel Parker, Lieut. Nathaniel Plumer, and Capt. John 
Savory. 

By a resolution of the General Court, December 4th, 
1780, a call Avas made upon Bradford to furnish 20,042 
pounds of beef for the use of the State. In response to 
this call, the town, on January 3d, 1781, voted to raise 
the sum of £61,9'2Q to purchase the beef. Thus, in less 
than six months, the town voted to raise over £100,000 
on account of the war ; quite a sum although in a depre- 
ciated cun-ency. But for some reason not stated, the 
beef was not forthcoming, and a meeting ,was called Jan. 
28d aud a vote passed giving the Selectmen discretionary 
power to purchase the beef or pay the money in lieu 
thereof at the rate of 14.50 per pound, so great had be- 
come the depreciation of the currency. 

The delegate from Bradford to the convention held at 
Caml)ridge in 1779 to form a State Constitution was Peter 
Russel, Esq. The new Constitution w^as accepted by the 
town after some discussion upon the tliird article. The 
first vote for Governor under the new Constitution was 
47, of which John Hancock had 32 and James Bowdoin 15. 

At this time the feeling against those who opposed the 
Revolution and left the country during the war, or con- 
spired against it, was very strong ; and a vote was passed 
instructing our Representative to use his utmost endeav- 
ors to prevent all such from ever returning to live again 
in this Commonwealth. After a careful examination of 
the records, I feel justified in saying there are no instances 
of disloyalty to the colonial cause on the part of the town, 



ORATION. 19 

but rather they were zealous to do their part. Also dur- 
ing the French War of 1755, a company from this town 
marched to Stillwater, N. Y., under the command of Capt. 
Wm. Kimball. And since the division of the town, in 
1850, when Groveland was set otF with half the popula- 
tion and half the valuation, the town of Bradford has well 
sustained its former reputation, which was put to a severe 
test during the recent war of the Kebellion. There were 
some, indeed, who stood aloof, and some who openly op- 
posed the measures taken to preserve the Union. But 
their opposition was weak amid the great outburst of pop- 
ular feelino; for the cause of the rio-ht and the freedom of 
the oppressed. This feeling was put in active operation 
by the enlistment of volunteers and the furnishing of 
supplies immediately on the first act of armed opposition 
to the government. Bradford did well her part, all that 
was asked of her, in furnishing men and money. This is 
fully attested by the amount expended and the debt she 
incurred for carrying on the war, which is now all paid : 
but more especially by her thirty-one fallen sons, at 
whose- graves we annually pay the tribute of grateful 
remembrance. 

And now, from the record of war, abundant as it is and 
imperfectly as I have been able to give it, let us go back, 
another hundred years, to the first settlement of the town, 
which may afford some items of interest. 

SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN. 

The town of Rowley formerly extended from the At- 
lantic ocean on the east to the town of Audover on the 
west, and, after passing Newbury on the north, extended to 



20 ORATION. 

the Merrimack river. On the south it was bounded (>y 
Ipswich and Topsfield, and included nearly all that now 
constitutes the towns of Rowley, Boxford, Georgetown, 
Groveland and Bradford. Bradford was separated from 
Rowley by an act of incorporation in 1675. Previous to 
this, however, in 1658, a committee of Rowley had laid out 
tracts of land for the Rev. Samuel Phillips, who was the 
colleague of Rev. Ezekiel Rogers, the tirst minister of 
Rowley. Mr. Phillips, Joseph Jewett, John Spoiford 
and others whose names are mentioned divided these 
lands — about 10,000 acres — among themselves in various 
})roportions, in 1671. Tliese pet sons were the first set- 
tlers of this territory, which, bordering as it does on the 
river, was at first called Merrimack. Afterwards it w^as 
known as Rowley village, and finally received the name 
of Bradford when it became an incorporated town. 

The town was originally laid out in lots running from 
the river southward. These lots were of diflerent widths, 
and many of the ancient boundaries still remain, and are 
discoverable by the course of the fences, especially over 
the hills. In some cases portions of these lands are occu- 
pied by the descendants of the first settlers, whose names 
in the east part of the town, now Groveland, are the fol- 
lowing, in order of lots, beginning at the east end : Joseph 
Richardson, Jonas Platts, John Hopkinson, Joseph Bailey, 
Edward Wood, Benjamin Savory, William Hutchens, 
Ezra Rolf, Samuel Tenney, Francis .Jewett, Samuel 
Wooster, Samuel Stickney, John and William Hardy, 
Abraham and Daniel Parker, and the Carleton Patent. 
Then came next in what is now Bradford, the Haseltine 



ORATIOX. 21 

Patent, extending from Johnson's Creek to Cliadwick's 
Ferry, and settled by Thomas Kimball, William Jackson, 
David Hasseltiue, and Shubal Walker ; next followed the 
lots of Thomas West, John Boynton and John Griffin. 
The extreme west was the Patent of John Day, whose 
house was the fourth built in the West Parish. On his 
Patent also settled Nehemiah Carleton, Richard Hale, and 
Alexander Campbell. 

The land at the neck, so-called, was patented to Philip 
At wood and John Head, and with them settled Abraham 
Gage, John Annis and Samuel Kimball. The employ- 
ment of the people in the early times was mostly agricul- 
tural, and many line farms along the Merrimack attested 
the fertility of the soil ; prominent among them in later 
times was the farm of David How. In 1670 the first 
grist-mill was erected on Johnson's creek. The business 
of tanning leather was commenced early in the West 
Parish and afterwards more extensively carried on in the 
East Parish, now almost wholly abandoned. Prior to the 
introduction of the shoe business, ship building was car- 
ried on in several ship yards. Brick making to some 
extent has been carried on, and is also at the present time. 
In 1760 a fulling mill was established on Johnson's creek. 
Upon this stream in former years have been operated grist- 
mills, saw-mills, tanneries, and a manufactory of twine 
and thread, all of which have given place to the extensive 
woolen manufactories in South Groveland, owned and 
carried on by the Hon. E. J. M. Hale, of Haverhill, and 
employing 400 or more operatives. 

The shoe business as a trade, furnishing shoes far the 



22 ORATION. 

market, was commenced by Daniel Hardy about the year 
1760, or one hundred years after the settlement of the 
town. He was followed by others until in both parishes 
it became the leading and almost exclusive manufacturing" 
business. This business has funiished employment alsoy 
to most of the people din-ing the winter months in addi- 
tion to their agricultural pursuits. At the present time 
it employs a large proportion of the people of Bradford, 
althou£2:h not a shoe manufacturino; establishment stands 
upon her soil. 

The immediate proximity of Haverhill and the greater 
facilities for carrying on the business there have induced 
the Bradford manufacturers to remove their establishments 
across the river, which removal was completed about twen- 
ty-five years ago. Among the larger business firms in Haver- 
hill may be found those operated l)y residents of Bradford, 
viz. : L. Johnson & Co., A. L. Kimball, John B. Farrar, 
Warren Ordway, Alfred A. Ordway, S. W. Hopkhison, 
Peter E. Pearl, and John F. Merrill. This easy access to 
Haverhill over a free bridge has had a similar influence 
upon all the other trades and occupations of the people. 
The only stores to be found here are grocery and provis- 
ion stores, and Bradford has become almost entirely a 
place of residence, the active business of its people being 
carried on in Haverhill, and in some instances in Boston, 
so far as trade, manufactures, and mechanical employ- 
ments are concerned. 

A few statistics showing the increase of the population 
from time to time may not be out of place here. From 
lack of census returns T give the Governor vote under the 



ORATION. 23 

new constitution in 1780, which was 47 ; in 1790, 63 ; in 
1800, 115; and in 1810, 219. In 1810 the popnlation 
was 1369; in 1820, 1650; and in 1850, when Groveland 
w\as set off, Bradford's half of the population was about 
1300. The most rapid increase has been during the past 
ten years. The present number is about 2500. This in- 
crease has been confined almost entirely to the central 
portion of the town. When the Boston & Maine railroad 
was opened to this town in 1837 the village contained but 
three streets, the Andover road and the Salem road, which 
unite at the meeting house and extend to Haverhill 
bridge — excepting the old Ferry street. Since then some 
fifteen new streets have been opened and more or less 
built upon. The postofiice system, established about the 
year 1672, did not give to Bradford a postofiSce till 1811. 

PROVISION FOR RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. 

That the first settlers of Bradford took a deep interest 
in religious instruction is manifest from the early records. 
One of their number to whom the territory was originally 
allotted was a clergyman, the Rev. Samuel Phillips, of 
Rowley. Of the first public worship in the town there 
seems to be no record. The first religions teacher of 
whom there is a record was the Rev. Zechariah Syrames, 
a son of Rev. Zechariah Symmes, minister at Charles- 
town. He graduated at Harvard College in 1657. At 
what time he came to Bradford, or Rowley it was then, 
does not appear. But he must have been the minister 
here not long after the first settlement, and have decided 
to make his residence among the people of Bradford, for 
at the first leiral town meeting on record, held Feb. 20th, 



24 ORATION. 

1668, it was voted to finish biiilcling the minister's house, 
under direction of Mr. Symmes, and this was seven years 
before the town was incorporated and fourteen years be- 
fore the organization of the first church, when Mr. Symmes 
was ordained, in 1682. The first year's salary was forty 
pounds, which l)y the custom of those days was paid in 
provisions — the necessaries of life. 

It would ))e interesting to present the various steps 
taken by the town tor the formation of the first church. 
I have only space for a very short quotation, which will 
shoAv the mind of the people, and it will be observed also 
that this is a town and not simply a church action, for the 
church seemed to include the town. The record is as 
follows : " We, the inhabitants of Bradford, met togeth- 
er at a legal town meeting, 13th March, 1682, in thank- 
fulness to God for his great mercy in setting up his sanct- 
uary among us, do hereby engtige ourselves, jointly and 
singly, and do engage our children after us, as far as we 
may by our parental authority, to endeavor by our and 
their utmost power, to uphold the fiiithful ministry of the 
gospel of Jesus Christ in this town of Bradford so long 
as we and they shall live." Then follows the agreement 
with the minister for his support. They had already 
bought the parsonage land of forty acres. A part only of 
the covenant of the first church has been preserved, 
which was signed by fourteen male members. After forty 
years' service, Mr. Symmes died in 1707. Of his succes- 
sors there is only time to speak briefly. 

During the first half century from the settlement of the 
town there was but one church, and but two pastors, — the 



ORATION. 25 

two Symmes, father aud sou, both able men and faith- 
ful miuisters. Immediately foUowiug the settlement of 
the third pastor, Rev. Joseph Parsous, the town was di- 
vided into two parishes, the East aud West. This was iu 
1726. 

The first minister iu the East Parish was the Rev. Wil- 
liam Balch, followed by Ebenezer Dutch aud Gardner B. 
Perry, whose three pastorates comprise one hundred and 
forty-six years. In the West Parish Mr. Parsons was 
succeeded in 1765 by the Rev. Samuel Williams, a mau 
of much learning and widely known as a literary char- 
acter in this and other countries. He was elected a pro- 
fessor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Harvard 
University and left the ministry at Bradford in 1780. 
Then followed the Rev. Jonathan Allen, whose term of 
ministerial office was longer than any of his predecessors 
or successors to the present time, being about forty-six 
years. From the ordination of Mr. Symmes in 1682 to 
the death of Mr. Allen in 1827, a period of one hundred 
and forty -live years, there were but five ministers in the 
West Parish, being an average of twenty-nine years each. 
Mr. Allen was the author of the sacred hymn commencing 

" Sinners will you scorn the message 
Sent in mercy from above ? " 

Since Mr. Allen's day there have been six ministers to the 
present time, forty-nine years, averaging a little more than^ 
eight years each. Of the miuisters, Ingraham, Hoadley, 
Searle, Munroe, and McCollom, a lack of time forbids me 
to speak. And while our present minister, the Rev. John 
D. Kingsbury, has exceeded the average term of office of 



26 O'EATION', 

his immediate predecessors, may we not hope that hi;? 
length of days and increasing usefuhiess may l)e contin- 
ued among us as in the gx)od old times. The first meet- 
ing house was erected prior to the first town meeting on 
record, and located west of the centre of the town at the 
old cemetery. A. second was erected in 1705. After the 
town was divided into the East and West Parishes, the 
West Parish held possession of the meeting house and 
the East erected for themselves a place of worship in 
172G. Twenty-five years later the West Parish chose a 
more central location and erected a new meeting house 
near where the present one now stands, wliich is the fifth 
and only one in Bradford. About the year IcSOO a small 
fund was established to aid in the support of the minister, 
by a donation from Jonathan Chadwick of $1000. This 
fund has increased from time to time and now yields 
something over $400 annually. 

EDUCATION. 

A'^ery little is known about the provision made for the 
education of the children at the earliest settlement of the 
town. The Selectmen had authority given them to ex- 
pend money for " prudentials," and it is rensonable to 
suppose that instructing the children Avas one of the 
" prudentials." The first recorded vote of the town on 
this subject was in 1701, when the Selectmen were direct- 
ed to provide a school at their discretion at the town's 
expense. The next year, hoAvever, a small tuition was 
required ; twopence a week for those learning to read, 
and fourpence for those learning to write, and a portion 



OEATIOJ^, 27 

«f the expense was paid by the town. The teacher, whose 
aiame is tirst mentioned, was Ichabods. Tliere is found 
the record of a teacher in 1723, by the name of White, 
who received an annual sahiry of £24 and 10s. After 
bim wore Master Hobey and Master Merrel. These 
teachers taught through the year, alternating from one 
place to another in different parts of the town. The first 
school house was built on the meeting house land, year 
unknown, costing £25. The following is from the record 
of March 7th, 1774 : " 'Twas put to vote to see if the town 
would supply the schools with wood after September next, 
and so on for the future, and it passed in the negative." 
In 1780 voted one month's schooling at the school house 
near John Burbauk's. In 1795 is the first record of a 
school committee chosen in addition to the selectmen and 
minister, who were a standing committee of schools by 
virtue of their ofiice. Their names were Capt. Nathaniel 
Thurston, Ens. James Kimball, Nathan Burbank, and 
Dea. Seth Jewett. Voted to raise £340 to defray all 
town charges. Voted two months' schooling, January 
and February, in the new school house near Kev. Mr. 
Allen's. About this time an increased interest was mani- 
fested in the public schools, and a committee soon after- 
wards introduced regulations for the more systematic 
management of the schools. The time of the school ses- 
sions was short, and the range of studies very limited. 
Although the interest in the cause of education had been 
marked by constant provision for the support of the pub- 
lic schools, yet not satisfied with the school advantages 
provided at public expense, prominent individuals con- 



templated something beyond. The effort was made and 
Bradford Academy commenced its first term June 6th ^ 
1803^, which was within three months from the time of 
the first meeting of the i>eople to consider the subject of 
erecting a building. During these three months they 
had raised the money, erected their building, engaged a 
preceptor and preceptress, and opened a school with fifty- 
one pupils of both sexes. The next year the number of 
pupils had increased to eighty-seven the first term. In 
this. year, 1804, an act of incorporation was obtainedo 
And this was the foundation of one of the first and most 
widely known female academies in the country. The first 
preceptor was Mr. Samuel Walker, and he was succeeded 
by twelve others in less than twelve years. Two of the 
twelve were natives of Bradford : the Rev. Daniel Hardy, 
educated at Dartmouth College and preceptor two 3'ears, 
and Richard Kimball, also educated at Dartmouth Colles-e 
and formerly a pupil in the Academy. The last preceptor 
was Benjamin Greenleaf, whose term of office was almost 
double the aggregate time of his thirteen predecessors. 
His labors in the Academy were abundantly successful, 
and his arithmetics gave him a wide reputation as a math- 
ematician. He also took a great interest in the public 
schools both of the town and the State. He was one of 
the founders of the Essex County Teachers' Association. 
His term of administration continued a quarter of a cen- 
tury, to 1836, when the school was restricted to the 
education of young ladies. After leaving the Academy 
he continued teaching and established Bradford Teachers* 
Seminary, which continued till 1848. The Academy as a 



ORATION. 29 

female school was continued under the instruction of the 
preceptress, Miss Abigail C. Hasseltine, of Bradford, 
who as a pupil or teacher was connected with this school 
for fifty years, and only abandoned her loved profession 
when compelled to do so by the infirmities of age. Among 
the first pupils were Mrs. Jijdson and Mrs. Newell, whose 
connection with the first foreign missionary movement has 
given to the Academy a wide reputation. It was in Brad- 
ford at the meeting of the General Association of Massa- 
chusetts, that the proposition of Messrs. Judson, Nott, 
Newell and Hall to become foreign missionaries was re- 
ceived. It was at this same meetins^ that the Association 
instituted ' ' The American Board of Commissioners for 
Foreign Missions," and elected the persons constituting, 
in the first instance, that Board. This took place in June, 
1810. Also the pupils from this Academy have l)ecome 
the instructors or founders of other similar acade- 
mies, as Ipswich and Holyoke. Twice have new and ' 
enlarged buildings been erected, in 1841 and in 1870, to 
accommodate this school. Of the present Academy, its 
benevolent donors, its numerous patrons, its dozen 
teachers, its hundred pupils, its extended influence, I 
have not time to speak. Its spacious building is before 
you, its influence we all acknowledge, and the pleasure of 
its grounds we are now permitted to enjoy, through the 
courtesy of him who has been most prominent among its 
benefactors, the Hon. George Cogswell, the president of 
the day. 

In 1821 Merrimack Academy was established in the 
East Parish. It has done much for the education of its 



30 OKATIOX. 

people, aiiJ now, after some iiitcrruptioiis, is in sirccesgfuB 
operation. 

The change in the system of education in our State has- 
"wrought great changes in all the schools in the more pop- 
iilons towns. The old academies so common in the New 
England towns have given place to the public High School 
and the lower grades. The districts have been abolished 
and a system of graded schools introduced. Bradford 
adopted this system and established a High School in 
1866, although there were not at that time in the town 
five hundred families, the number by law necessitating the 
establishment of such a school. This school has a four 
years' course of study and is well sustained. The first 
newspaper, the Bradford Sun, edited by our High School 
boys, is a very worthy sheet. In amount appropriated 
ibr support of public schools according to the numl)er of 
scholars between five and fifteen years old, Bradford ranks 
the sixth in the County and the forty-ninth in the State, 

TOAVN OFFICERS. 

The appointment of suitable men to transact the public 
business of a town contributes greatly to its prosperity 
and respectability. And it is but justice to say that 
the records of this town bear strong evidence of the 
wisdom and faithfulness of the Selectmen liy the numer- 
ous votes giving them discretionary powx»r to manage all 
its " prudentials." And also they bear testimony to the 
faithfulness of the recording ofiicer from time to time. 

The town meeting, from that first one of forty-one per- 
sons in 1620 which was held on board the Mayflower to the 



ORATION. 31 

present time, has occupied an important place in our form 
of government. The people are recognized as the source 
■of power, and it is in these meetings that they exercise the 
greatest freedom of speech and action, not only in con- 
ducting their own local atiairs, hut in making their intiu- 
•ence felt by the general government. Upon the character 
of the men who take the lead in these meetings, and the 
people who sustain them, depends the prosperity and de- 
velopment of the local municipalities and through them 
the State and the Nation. The exercise of this power is 
a most sacred trust, a people governing themselves. Our 
rulers are our servants, who are expected to carry out the 
will of the people as expressed throngh the voice of the 
majority in these town meetings. 

Our liberties were established by the heroic deeds of 
our ancestors ; they were defended and confirmed by the 
blood of the patriotic dead ; and to this generation is 
entrusted the duty of preserving and perpetuating that 
which we have inherited. How can we better do this than 
by exercising that lofty patriotism which knows no local- 
ity except that for the interests of the w^hole ; by diffusing 
among the people the treasures of knowledge which is 
power ; and by encouraging the practice of virtue by 
word and by deed. Do we complain of the corruption of 
our rulers, we have only to look around among us to find 
that this is but the reflection of the corruption of the peo- 
ple at home. As the fountain can never rise higher than 
its source, so the rulers of a representative form of gov- 
ernment can never be more pure and patriotic than the 
masses of the people whom they represent. Our rulers 



S2 ORATICm, 

are made such but temi)orarily, aucl if they ai-e not faith- 
ful to the trust confided to them, it is the fault of the 
people to continue them in that trust. In fact among a 
true, a virtuous and high-minded j^eople it is impossible 
for the demagogue to continue long in power. Of the 
duties of the hour, retrenchment, reform, economy, a cor- 
rection of the abuses of public patronage, and maintaining 
a sound currency, &c., I have not time to speak. 

Our republic is yet young. Many dangers lie before 
us. It is possible for us to lose our liberties. The Com- 
monwealth of Rome continued for nearly tive hundred 
years. She went on conquering and exacting tribute from 
every new State, until the city of the seven hills became 
the mistress of the world. Everything paid tribute to 
Rome, till she fell 1)y the weight of her own greatness, 
which led to her own corruption. Everything Avas drawn 
from the people for the emolument and glory of the Roman 
capital and nothing but a name extended to them. 

Such is not our policy. It would destroy our republic 
in less than twenty-five years. Policies develop faster in 
our day. Then let ours be the policy that disseminates ; 
a parental policy, that extends the strong arm of the cen- 
tral government all over the land, not to exact tribute 
from the people, but to scatter among them the blessings 
of personal liberty, encouraging the weak, raising up the 
fallen, and allowing the oppression of none. Let our 
rulers go up to the capital, not in regal splendor; but in 
republican simplicity ; not for the aggrandizement of them- 
selves, but as the guardians of liberty for millions yet to 
be. 



PROCEEDINGS. 33 

The Amphion Glee Club of Haverhill then sang songs 
appropriate to the occasion, and national airs were played 
by the band. The well spread tables were next visited 
and the wants of the inner man attended to. The social 
features of the hour were evidently enjoyed by all, and 
it was manifest by the abundance provided that the com- 
mittee on provisions had not neglected their duty. 

After the collation toasts and speeches were the order 
of the day, and Samuel W. Hopkinson, Esq., acting as 
Toastmaster, read the following sentiments, to which 
spirited responses were given : 

I. The President of the United States, May he ever be insjoirecl 
with wisdom from on high, that he may guide the Ship of State with 
an eye single to the glory and honor of our country. 

Responded to by Hon. Henry Carter, of Bradford. 

II. The Day we Celebrate. May the same feelings of patriotism 
that prompt us to celebrate to-day go down with generations to' 
follow through other centuries. 

Responded to by Rev. John C. Paine, of Groveland : 

Mr. President and Fellow Citizens : 

We have reached an interesting pei'iod in our national existence ; 
and as we gather to-day around our sacred altars, our first feeling 
should be that of gratitude to Him, who was evidently with our 
fathers in the days of conflict and peril ; and who has ever watched 
over the people in their prosperity. Next to that Providence whose 
smile was upon our fathers on the battle-field and in the council- 
chamber, we should remember those who stood firm for the cause of 
freedom, and went forward with firm step and a martyr's zeal, in 
the noblest cause that shines in the history of the world, to achieve 
for themselves and their posterity political and religious liberty. 
For, through their agency, we have a government modeled more 
nearly to accord with what man's nature requires than any other. 
Under this government we have prospered ; and standing as we do 
to-day on free American soil, looking back upon our history for a 
century, we may present our country to the world, and say, as 
Webster said of Massachusetts, " There she stands, look at her." 
5 



34 PROCEEDINGS. 

F'rom a poor, bankrupt colony, we have risen to the second commer- 
cial nation in the world. From a population of three millions we 
may boast now of forty millions. From being confined to the 
Atlantic seaboard, with the ocean on one hand, and savages and a 
wilderness on the other, we now stretch our arms from sea to sea, 
with cities and villages springing up on every side. Literature, ' 
general intelligence and religion have everywhere kept pace with 
other improvements, and we can hardly appreciate the present and 
prospective greatness, and consequent influence of our gi'owin^ 
Repulilic. Every vision we take of it deepens the impression of its 
importance. Great enterprise marks the character of our people. 
Agriculture, manufactures and commerce, schools and public build- 
ings, and houses of worship, all testify to our matchless enterprise. 
If we remain truq to our j^olitical and religious pi-inciples, and use 
with faithfulness our I'esources and elements of power, taking broad 
views of duty and obligation, we may expect still to progi*ess with 
greater I'apidity than in the past, and that our institutions will be 
copied in other lands, and that we may exert a decisive and beni<^n 
influence on the destinies of the world. 

III. Our Public Schools The broad foundation on which our 
national temple was built. 

Responded to Iw Herbert I. Ordway, of the School 
Committee : 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

Tt is not necessarj^ for me to go into an extended account of our 
schools to-day. You all know what they are. A great many of you 
were present at the late High School Exhibition, where the scholars 
spoke for themselves far better than any one could speak for them, 
and it is in this way that you must become acquainted with the 
schools. I am sorry to notice that the people in this town seem to 
have so little personal intei-est in the schools. Tou appropriate 
four or five times as much money for them as for any other one 
purpose, and are content to put this money into the hands of three 
men to expend as they please, and are willing to depend for your 
knowledge of the result upon what j^our children say and what you 
hear upon the street. This is not as it should be. All of you, and 
especially those of you who have children at school, should make it 
a point to visit the schools once in a while and judge for yourselves 
of the methods and discipline of the teacher and of the success of 
each. Then you will be able to form an intelligent idea of our 
Schools and the effect upon both teachers and scholars cannot fail to 



PROCEEDINGS. 35 

be beneficial. Those of you who may follow my advice will then 
find that one of the greatest difficulties which our teachers have to 
contend with is the frequent and often unnecessary absences of some 
of the scholars. I cannot sijeak on this subject too strongly. If 
the absent scholar were the only one sufl'ering from the absence, 
the evil would be less, but the effects are felt more or less by the 
whole school. I hope you will guard against this evil in the future. 
Send your children to school every day unless it is absolutely neces- 
sary that they should remain at home, and be assured that they will 
learn as much in one year of punctual attendance as in three years 
devoted half to school and half to something else. 

IV. Ow Revenues. May the future collections of the govern- 
ment be equal to the payments of the people. 

Responded to by Hon. E. B. George, of Groveland : 

Mr. President and Fellow Citizens : 

The subject of the toast to which I am expected to respond, will 
hardly be considered an interesting one, as no measure that calls 
upon us to put our hands in our pockets and pass out our money 
without at once receiving a tangible equivalent in return, can be 
considered agreeable to any one of us. What more uninteresting 
object can possibly be presented to our fellow citizens when they 
return from a visit abroad, loaded with rare and curious articles, 
than an officer of the Revenue. The lady who has filled her trunk 
with "a love of a bonnet," costly lace, rich silks and velvets; the 
gentleman who has stowed away among his wardrobe a few boxes 
of choice cigars, a beautiful present for the girl he left behind him, 
or the wife and children as precious as his own life, all think of 
him with fear and trembling. And not an importer in the land en- 
ters a custom house with his bag of gold, who does not wish that 
in some way this payment of duties could be evaded or abated. Yet 
all these are required to contribute to swell "our revenue." 

The wish is expressed that "the future collections of the govern- 
ment may be equal to the payments by the people.'" This good 
time is almost upon us, for it appears by a report recently made in 
the Senate of the United States that the percentage of loss upon the 
money collected and disbursed by the government has been less 
during the present administration than during any preceding one 
since the organization of the government. And not only is the per- 
centage of loss very much less, but it also appears that while the 
amount the government collects and disburses has greatly in- 



36 PROCEEDINGS. 

creased, yet the total loss during the present administration has 
been less than it was during the administration of Martin Van Bu- 
ren, Andrew Jackson, or James Monroe. Not a bad exhibit with 
which to enter upon the second century of our national existence. 

I have alluded to the general reluctance with which revenue dues are 
paid. But when we reflect upon the value of our institutions, it would 
seem as if we should cheerfully contribute to their support. Consider 
for a moment their cost. We all have a realizing sense of what it 
cost of blood and of treasure, of agony upon the battle-field and 
among the loved ones at home, to preserve our free institutions dur- 
ing the war of the rebellion. From history we obtain some idea of 
the toil and suffering cheerfully endured by our forefathers in found- 
ing this Republic and. in waging the war for Independence. But 
this is not all. A Republic cannot be made in a day; it cannot be 
created by a series of resolutions, nor by a declaration. It was not 
that softly beautiful autumn day, when the ajjple dropped, fully ripe, 
from the tree into the la^) of the waiting husbandman, that jjro- 
duced the apjile. That was perhaps the least important of all the 
Ijreceding days of spring and summer, sunshine and rain, during 
which it grew and matured. So it was not that one day, a hundred 
years ago, upon which the Declaration of Independence was pro- 
mulgated, that made our Republic a possibility. For that, all the 
preceding days, stretching back through the one hundred and fifty 
years, were necessary, during which our forefathers were becom- 
ing inured to toil and hardships of every kind — were learning the 
art of war by defending themselves from a savage and wily foe — 
were perfecting themselves in the science of self-government by 
assembling in town meetings to discuss public affairs, and by gath- 
ering together to devise ways and means for founding and maintain- 
ing schools and churches. No other nation ever had such a training 
as this, and therefore it is no marvel that there arc so few Republics 
to-day. More than this, our fathers came here bringing with them 
all that was best in the customs and the laws, the civilization and 
the religion of the motherland— the best she had been able to ac- 
quire during seven and a half centuries. So, then, the institutions 
that to-day bless this nation are the ripe fruit of all the toil and the 
sufferings, the study, the heroism and the blood-shed of a thousand 
years. Such being their cost and their value, how zealously should 
we'strive to preserve them imimpaired, how careful should we be 
that the ballots that silently drop from our hands, freighted with the 
nation's destiny, re2)resent all that is best and purest in the civiliza- 
tion^and Christianity of the age. 



PROCEEDINGS. 37 

V. The Buttle of Coivjjens. May Americans always beat in Cow- 
pens, calf-pens, pig-pens, authors' pens, and all other pens. 

Mr. Warren Ordway was called upon to respond for 
American Agriculture, which he thought had made as 
much progress during the past century as had been made 
in other departments of American industry. The chemi- 
cal analysis of soils, underdraining, and the improved 
methods of cultivation by the use of labor saving machin- 
ery, market gardening, milk fiirms, cheese factories and 
cattle husbandry, the establishment of agricultural 
schools and colleges for the education of our 3^0 ung men 
in scientific farming, when taken together with the gigan- 
tic operations of the farmers in the Western States and 
California, show an enterprising progress that is fully up 
to the American standard. The production of cotton, 
rice and tobacco in our Southern States has been devel- 
oped to a great extent during the century that is past, and 
these productions for a long series of years furnished the 
principal medium of our European exchanges. American 
agriculture is still in its infancy, as another one hundred 
years will show, when the now deserted farms of New 
England will be rejuvenated and brought into successful 
and profitable cultivation. 

VI. We have heard from the old block ; now let me introduce to 
you a chip of the same, who has strayed so far away from his fath- 
er's profession as to become a lawyer. 

Responded to by C. F. Payne, Esq., of Groveland : 

Mb. President and Fellow Citizens of Bradford : 

Although I had some intimation that I should be called upon to 
say a few words to-day, I only learned at the moment I heard it 
read, the nature of the toast to which I was to. respond. 

If, as your toast-master has been so polite to say, I am indeed a 
"chip of the old block," I am very glad and proud of it, and I trust 
I may live long enough, and improve suflaciently, to be a credit to 



3^^ piiacuEDrN-GS^. 

the spotless ancestry, which it has been my great good fortune tc 
have. But I will not take up your time with a genealogical disser- 
tation. As I am in some sense a representative of the younger por- 
tion of the community perlia2>s it would be in good taste to particu- 
larly address that particular class ; and any other day than the one 
we celebrate on this occasion, I would do so. But, Mr. President,, 
upon the anniversary of the birthday of om- country's independence,, 
it behooves us, I think, to forget all class distinctions of every sort,. 
to know no age, no j'outh, no sex, or color, and no North or South. 
To feel for once the beauty and the glory of the great fraternal tie,^ 
which binds us heart to heart, and liand to liiind, each time we 
recollect our common parentage. * * * It is a common thing, mj^ 
friends, for men to rail at politicians —to sneer and jeer at what they 
call the dii'ty pool of politics. And yet I dare to stand up here to- 
day and say, indeed, insist, that men not only have a moral as a le- 
gal right to mix in politics, but that it is the duty, most absolute and 
manifest, for ever}^ one who loves his country and desires his coun- 
try's good, to be a politician. Is legislation or tlie code of laws coi"- 
rupt ? See to it that you do your part to make them pure ! Are 
taxes over high and legislation onerous ? Who levies taxes, and who 
makes the laws ? — the sovereign people through their reprsenta- 
fcives ! Do scheming, unsafe men usurp the place of honor, and the 
treasury keys ? Do thieves break through and steal ? Let lionest 
men like you, and you, my friends, just be on hand and plan and vote 
at the appointed time for better and more honest persons for custo- 
dians ! And isn't after all the trouble with yourselves, or do yous 
all attend the caucus and jjrimary meeting faithfully ? I tell you 
Mr. President and fellow-citizens, the caucus underlies the cabinet 
and the legislature after all. 

But as the time is short, I must confine myself to topics of a dif- 
ferent sort, and leave unsaid a hundred things that should somehow 
be brought straight home to every citizen of this free and equal 
country, politically speaking. I feel the compliment you pay to me 
to-day in asking mc to sj)eak, because I am myself, in every nerve 
and fibre of my being, Araei'ican. My father's father fought with 
Washington. My father in the great I'ebellion held a commission 
signed by John A. Andrew, as a chaplain in our Union army. I 
was myself a soldier in that same great war. And though another 
of my family once had the great temerity to strike, indeed, knock 
down the boy who had a hatchet and never told a lie — who after- 
wards became the father of his country, ^this same impetuous, hot 
Virginia colonel was afterwards a friend and faithful soldier of that 
same great chief. Why should I not exult to see my country's 



PROCEEDINGS. B9 

growth and glory. * * When one day that wonderful battle cry went 
wp, anticipating liberty to a race, and Union one andindissoluble, what 
a noble, new and untried page it opened up to the historian of the fu- 
ture ! unprecedented and anomalous ! Ploughshares were lelt for 
swords, and pruning-hoolss were beaten into spears. The hum 
•of peaceful industry was deadened in an hour by the feet of a 
myriad citizen soldiers marching southward. The blast of 
the bugle and the roar of artillery were tlie orchestral voices 
Avhich sang the grand and terrible symjihony of life against 
life. When Sumpter's blood-stained bi'aves struck the eaith, 
that shock was t'elt in eA'ery Northern mother's heart. Oh ! 
food for pride and glory in America's patriotism was the begin- 
ning! fitful, fierce and terrible the struggle; but with the help 
of God, and the right on our side, the end victorious came at 
last. Scarred and decimated marched our armies, but four million 
freemen, looking '■ orthward, sang to Heaven their escape from 
■chains and slavery. And though our private wounds wei'e many, 
■deep and bitter, our Union was preserved! Where sleep the brave 
to-day.^ Their bones whiten upon the hillsides of Virginia and 
Eastern Tennessee; their blood mingles with the lagoons of Florida, 
and the bayous of Louisiana. Forgotten and undistinguished as 
they seem, they died upon the field of honor, and their self-sacrifice 
and noble daring shall be written u on the brightest page of Histor}-. 
What though no costly monument points out their resting-place ? 
From Massachusetts to Oregon, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 
from St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, pine tree and catai'act, 
and ocean, blending harmoniously, sing' the golden glory of their 
lives and death. And their names, their fame, their deeds, their 
destiny and memory shall be forever green in the hearts of their 
grateful fellow-countrymen, 

VII. The Ladies The last and best work of Nature : 

" Her 'prentice hand she tried on man, 
And then she made the lasses, O ! " 

Responded to by Charles B. Emerson, Esq. : 

Mr. President and Fellow Citizens : 

Deeming it as I do a signal honor to be called to respond in be- 
half of true womanhood, I with pleasure comply. Sir, I trust no 
careful student of national history— either of the Old World or the 
New — can fail to perceive the potent power, and influence, woman 
has infused in national life in all ages. When in retrospect of one 



40 FROCEEDIXGS. 

hundred yeare ag-o, we behold the infant America of 1776 cradled 
upon the bleak and unknown shore of the Plymouth of New Eng- 
land, suiTounded by cruel and treacherous savag^es in ambush, and 
call to mind the terrible sufferings, cnielty and privations endured, 
it is no wonder that the vei^ spot becomes saci*ed ground and Plym- 
outh Rock a national legacy. Mr, President, with this glorious old 
flag of freedom fluttering' in the breeze about our heads, emblematic 
of thirty-eight free and independent States, securely united in bonds 
of ft'aternal bi'otherhood — ^a glorious triumiA of heroic sacrifices 
filling' our hearts with exultant joy— and be(jueathing to as all that 
makes a nation truly a nation— freedom of action, freedom of 
thought, freedom of speech, we celebrate the hundredth birthday of 
the most benignant government under heaven, and the " Mistress of 
the World." Mr. President, for all these blessings to no one source 
are we more indebted than to woman for the moral vigor she has 
infused into the veins of our national life. In closing", Mr. Presi- 
dent, alow me the seniment — 

Ladie.i of Bradford — Noble representatives of a free and indepen- 
dent People, and a pure National life — eminent alike for their 
Virtue, Intelligence and Piety. 

VIII. The Oroveland Band. Although young, yet wonderfully 
perfected. 

Music by the Rand. 

IX. The Toirn of Oroveland. A rib taken from our side ; al- 
though young in years, yet prosperous and full of beauty and 
interest. 

Responded to by Charles Stickney, of Grovelaud. 

X. Oeorge Washington. "The first in peace; the first in war; 
and first in the hearts of his countrymen." 

Responded to by William Hilton, of Bradford : 

Mu. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 

It is difiicult to respond to such a sentiment as this, when we 
bring to mind all that has been said and written on the life and 
character of Washington. But there are four points so marked in 
his chai'acter that it is well to bring them to view as often as possi- 
ble ; certainly on this, the centennial anniversary of the country, he 
may almost be said to have created. First, his undying love of 



PROCEEDINGS. 41 

country; second, his unbending integrity; third, his firmness of 
purpose ; fourth, his trust in the God of Nations. It was said of 
him that he was accustomed to retire morning and evening and pray 
to his Heavenly Father for his protection and guidance. And the 
martyi- President, Lincoln, the preserver of the country, asked the 
prayers of the people, that he might have the help of Almighty 
God, to cai'ry through the great burden placed upon him. Well has 
it been said of Washington, that "No country can claim him as 
their own ; he was a boon to mankind, a gift to the world." Happy, 
proud America, the lightnings of heaven yielded to your philosophy 
and the temptation of earth could not seduce your patriotism. 

XI. The Town of Bradford Who can speak for the Town of 
Bradford so well as Towne himself? 

Responded to by D. Freeman Towue : 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

I am really placed in a very unfortunate position in attempting to 
say anything for the town of Bradford after so complete a gleaning 
of the field by our orator of the day. I shall therefore be compelled 
to take a broader field — that of our own country. It is with par- 
donable pride, on this centennial anniversary of our nation's birth, 
to behold her as she stands to-day, one of the brightest stars in the 
galaxy of nations, the future hope of millions of our countrymen 
and the asylum for the oppressed of other nations. One hundred 
years have rolled away since the corner stone of this government 
was laid. We were then weak, yet nurtured by the approving 
smiles of Providence, we have since gi'own to the strength and per- 
fection of a great and mighty nation. Our territory then compris- 
ing but thirteen States thinly populated with three millions ot 
people confined to the Atlantic coast, now embraces thirty-eight with 
forty-four millions, having a government of their own, but by Federal 
compact united to form one powerful nation, whose influence is felt 
to the remotest part of the world. What astounding imi^i'ovements 
characterize the age in which we live. Improvement succeeds im- 
provement, and the invention of to-day supplants that of yesterday. 
No project is too bold for the enterprise of the present generation . 
Our commerce at the beginning of the late war, left no sea unex- 
plored ; the sails of our ships whitened every ocean ; the commercial 
enterprise of our merchants visited every bustling mart of the 
known world. Our railroads spread out their net work and draw in 
closer union different portions of the country and unite as by bands 
of iron distant cities and states ; the press, the mightiest engine 
6 



42 PROCEEDINGS. 

ever invented by the genius of man, throws off its impressions with 
the rapidity of thought, and the fire horse, impatient of restraint, 
stands ready to convey them to the remotest hamlet of the land ; 
the mystic wire, as if reproaching the sluggish power of steam, 
threads its way to encompass the globe and to urge on with electric 
force the progress and improvement of the age. Want of time for- 
bids me to note the marvellous improvements in the various dejiart- 
ments of mechanical art, in the manufacture of cloth, in the art of 
printing and electro-magnetism since the days of our Franklin. 
It is with astonishment that we behold the wonderful perfection in 
the api^lication of steam since its discovery by Fitch and Fulton. 
Think of it as it drives our cars over sixty thousand miles of rail- 
way, and also despite wind and wave, tide and stox-m, propels the 
thousands of steamboats which plow our navigable waters, and turns 
the machinery of the world. Its magic power gives new direction 
to energy and capital, brings distant places into proximity and con- 
nects them by bands which no party animosity, no sectional prejudices 
or civil discords can ever sunder. Now, Mr. President, the hours of 
this glorious day are passing, and long ere the recurrence of anoth- 
er centennial every participant of this will have passed away, but 
may the same principle that actuated the founders of our govern- 
ment and was incorporated into its formation flow down to the 
remotest stages of postei'ity — that the next centennial will still find 
this a united Republic whose " God is the Lord." 

Xn. " The Orator:' 

Responded to by Harrison E. Chadwick : 

Mr. PRESroENT AND Fellow Citizens : 

We celebrate the deeds of our ancestors. We look back with 
pride to the history of the settlement of our country, while we trace 
its rapid growth, and congratulate ourselves ujjon the achievement 
of our liberties. We see a continent, given up to the abode of the 
savage of the wilderness, transformed into the abode of civilization 
and plenty. We see how our enemies abroad and at home have 
been overcome, and made to acknowledge our power and freedom : 
how the slave has been set free, and raised to citizenship. Yet 
while all this and more, that I have not time to enumerate, has been 
accomplished, thei-e is much left to be done. Our ancestors have 
done their part and left us. It is ours to continue what they have 
commenced, and to preserve what they have established. Can we 
say that the work is complete while we have an enemy in our midst 
that has done more to check the progress of our people than the 



PEOCEEDINGS. 43 

wild Indian, or tax levying parliament of Great Britain ? an enemy 
that in defiance of " Maine Laws," widows' sighs and orphans' 
tears, stalks over our land, leaving only ruin in his j)ath? Yes, we 
have an enemy to conquer. King Alcohol must be overcome, and 
there is a duty awaiting each one. The first duty in a temperance 
reform is for each one to begin at home at once. Every reformer 
must strive to be himself what he would have othei's become. It 
is useless for our legislators to enact laws against the selling of 
liquors, while they themselves within twenty-four hours of their 
enactments, in many cases, go out and break their laws by their 
purchases. It is impossible for the seller of liquor to break the 
law alone. There must be a buyer ; and until our temperance laws 
can have the moral support of our legislators and all good citizens 
the traiSc and consequent ruin will go on. If, as statistics show, 
this is the worst enemy in our midst, and .the cause of more crime 
and ruin than all else combined, then let us meet the foe manfully, 
and achieve a victory greater than tliat we this day celebrate. 

The ceremonies at the grove were now concluded. 
Among the guests present from Haverhill were ex-Mayors 
Levi Taylor and Alpheus Currier, ex- Alderman James F. 
West; John B. Nichols and Thos. J, Taylor. 

The decorations and display of flags in the various 
streets were numerous, and many of them attractive. At 
the residence of John Davis was a beautiful centennial 
decoration, embracing portraits of General and Martha 
Washington, the descending dove amid numerous flags, 
and the mottoes, "Our flag in honor shall wave" — 
"Loudly pealed the old bell" — "Malice toward none, 
Charity for all." United with these was a combination of 
flowers, wreaths, and ferns. The residence of Jacob 
Kimball, near the Common, the " Old Tavern" of the 
days that are past, was decorated tastefully with the stars 
and stripes. There was a handsome display of flags and 
tri-colored draping by Samuel W. Hopkinson, and an el- 
egant decoration of the residence and grounds of James 
K. Hall, with flags and streamers of red, white and blue, 
combined with Chinese lanterns supplying an illumination 



44 PROCEEDINGS, 

in the evening. The residences of many other citizens 
were more or less decorated by the display of flags or 
otherwise, among them may be named, Leverett W. 
Tyler, A. L. Kimball, B. R. Downes, Justin Lawrence, 
Wm. Cogswell, A. S. Hodgkins, Mrs. Joseph Pearsons, 
Frank H. Kimball, Eev. John D. Kingsbury, Dr. George 
Cogswell, Warren Ordway, B. G. Perry, Leverett Kim- 
ball, John B. FaiTar, J. W. Woodside, Sylvester Doloff, 
Geo. L. Kelley, Lieut. E. E. Bradbury, U. S. N., and 
the Postoffice. 

At sunset the church bell was rung, and a salute of 
thirty-eight guns was fired by a detachment of the Mass. 
battery. A display of fireworks in the evening closed the 
observance of this Centennial Fom-th of July. 




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